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December 25, 2013
The Vicar's Corner

"And There Were In The Same Country Shepherds Abiding In The Field, Keeping Watch Over Their Flock By Night.

And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them And The Glory Of The Lord Shone Round About Them And They Were Sore Afraid.

And The Angel Said Unto Them, Fear Not, For Behold, I Bring You Good Tidings Of Great Joy, Which Shall Be To All People.

For Unto You Is Born This Day In The City Of David A Saviour, Which Is Christ The Lord.

And This Shall Be A Sign Unto You; Ye Shall Find The Babe Wrapped In Swaddling Clothes, Lying In A Manager.

And Suddenly, There Was With The Angel A Multitude Of The Heavenly Hosts Praising God And Saying...

Glory To God In The Highest And On Earth, Peace, Good Will Toward Men."

Luke 2: 8-14
King James Bible

To my loving and cherished St. Nicholas family, my dear friends one and all....Merry and Blessed Christmas.  May the joy and grace this great feast provides fill your hearts and home to overflowing.

God bless us, one and all.

-Manny


The Week Ahead...
What's on the schedule
The next few weeks things may be somewhat quiet around good old St. Nicholas Church.  I suspect we all could afford a bit of a breather, what with the busy and hectic month we've all put in!

So, there will be no Wednesday Evening Prayer on December 25th and January 1st.  Also, no Choir Rehearsal will be scheduled.

If some one needs to speak to Manny, please know his cell phone will be on and available. 

Also, on both the 25th of December and the 1st of January, the Support Groups will be using the worship space and the Hall for a "holiday meetings marathon."  Let's keep our sisters and brothers in the Support Group in special prayer; this time of the year can be quite challenging and difficult.  In fact, let's keep everyone in our prayers and heart, shall we, and not just now, but always.
This Weekend's Worship Participants
Saturday, Dec. 28 / Sunday, Dec. 29
Lectionary
Saturday Lector (all readings): Eason Williams 

 

Sunday Lectors: Bob DeHaven, Ellen Whalen  

Sunday Intercessor: Tameica Williams 

Sunday Chalice Bearers: N/A (Morning Prayer) 

 

Sunday Coffee Hour Host(s): Volunteer(s) needed  

Prayer Requests
The Community of St. Nicholas is praying for:
For Bob and Jean O'Reilly, parents of our Jay O'Reilly.  Bob is now in hospice and Jean continues to reside at Friendship Village:  pray for their well being and safety and for the O'Reilly family that they find the strength and peace to cope. 

For all who are traveling this holiday season:  that all reach their destination in God's speed and safety.  Come home safely and in peace!

Our food pantry guests who struggle to make ends meet:  may they and all those who are experiencing economic hard times find the strength to endure and the courage to make a better life a reality.

 

For all our St. Nicholas community members who are under the weather and in need of healing and prayers:  may they find peace and be blessed with sound and better health.  Ruth Harber, Pat Kalicki, Joanne Mangiaracina, Earl Williams, Richard Gans and any one else in need our our continued prayers and well wishes.

 

For those who are exposed to the bitter cold and have no shelter:  may they find comfort and warmth.  

 

For our military personal who are overseas and engaged in battle:  that they soon return home safe and secure. 

 

For members of the Community of St. Nicholas who are undergoing difficult times, whether emotionally, financially or spiritually: that God bless and strengthen one and all.

 

For those who are suffering from the pain of depression:  may their burdens be lightened and may they find healing.

 

For the members of the Support Groups at St. Nicholas who endure, "one day at at time," in their daily battles against addiction.

 

Ethel 'Corkey' Stratton, Hal's Mom, she has suffered mini-strokes and is battling dementia and Alzheimer's: that she regain some strength and mobility and her loved ones are blessed with patience and acceptance. 
   
***Prayers for Eli    

For Eunice Dohra, Marcia Kizior, Nancy Allan, Richard and Mary Gans: members and family of our community of St. Nicholas who continue to experience health concerns: for the full restoration of sound health and a productive life.  
 

(**written prayer requests)  

Shout-Outs
thankyou_basket_hdr.jpg

To all who helped make our Christmas Eve services memorable and lovely - those who decorated; our lectors; chalice bearers; bulletin designers and printers; intercessors; those who assembled the Nativity Creche; our wonderful choir and organist/choirmaster, Mary Fletcher-Gomez, and Jillian Setchell and Maeve Terranova for their gift of music; all who attended the services; our presider and preacher; our bell ringers; our Verger.  You are all appreciated and loved.

 

To Brandon Garcia, who has volunteered to take over the ministry of the Sunday bulletins, and to Bob DeHaven, who will be the back-up.  To Hal Stratton, who does the Saturday bulletin.  A great deal of work goes into these, and we are truly grateful!   

 

To Marilyn Brown for the beautiful Christmas wreaths that grace our space. 

 

To Hal Stratton for his ministry as Verger. 

 

To Tameica Williams, who types the Prayers of the Assembly each week.

 

To Jennifer Brundige, who schedules our lectors, intercessors and chalice bearers and sends out reminders and texts in advance.

 

To Jennifer Garcia, who prints our bulletins.

 

To Hank Mandziara, who is our plant supervisor.

 

To Ray Malacek, for agreeing to become our treasurer.

 

To Bob DeHaven, our office manager. 

 

To all who donated toward the Christmas Flower Fund...thank you for your continued support.  Be assured your dearly departed loved ones and all special intentions will be remembered and celebrated at the altar and in our hearts.

 

To Penny Mandziara who proclaimed the Gospel and shared with us her spirited reflection last weekend.

 

To the members of the Order of St. Luke who shared with us their healing, blessings and anointing ministry. We are graced with your company and care.

 

A big thank you to all who stuck around last weekend and helped decorate the church for Christmas.  How beautiful it is when we worship and play together...it is the stuff that keeps us young and alive!

 

Thank you to God the Creator who shared with us His Son, Jesus the Christ, whose birth we commemorate and celebrate in song, spirit and sincerity. 

This Week on the Episcopal Church calendar
Here is what we are celebrating
Readings for This Weekend
First Sunday after Christmas (we'll celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents) - December 28/29

Jeremiah 31:15-17 


Revelation 21:1-7 


Matthew 2:13-18 


Psalm 124

We worship together:

Saturdays at 4:30PM
&
Sundays at 10AM
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
1072 Ridge Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
847-439-2067
www.StNicholasEpiscopal.org
Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.